Humans - Are we really unique?

[Napoléon]

[ignoramus]

Excellent dude!
More importantly, Naps, tell us what you feel is your own defining "unique" quality! (and we'll tell you ours)

[Napoléon]

More importantly, Naps, tell us what you feel is your own defining "unique" quality! (and we'll tell you ours)

Wait are you talking about me as a person? The thread's about humans as a species being unique... I thought that was obvs?

Unless you're just asking for the sake of it, in which case, it's blatantly the fact I have a pink username...

[rado84]

Sadly, we're animals. The things a human being can do to another human being no lower animal can do to another lower animal. For instance, no lower animal has ever killed or tortured another lower animal over religious bullshit.
May be the only difference between us and them is that we can speak.

[Napoléon]

May be the only difference between us and them is that we can speak.

I think this is the biggest thing, certainly. Language, as the second article points out is what allows us to essentially pass information from generation to generation. It's this passing down of information that allows humans to snowball their collective knowledge, leading to more and more advancements every generation.

[abaris]

Sadly, we're animals. The things a human being can do to another human being  no lower animal can do to another lower animal. For instance, no lower animal has ever killed or tortured another lower animal over religious bullshit.
May be the only difference between us and them is that we can speak.

What's to be sad over being an animal? And there are actual instances where animals kill fellow animals. Chimps are known to form death squads hunting down rival groups. We're most closely related to them, so it's no big surprise we've taken violence to a whole new level.

My understanding of the whole issue at hand is, we are unique, but every species is unique in their own way. They all have their strengths and weaknesses.

[Napoléon]

Ever seen a cat ripping a mouse to shreds? Yeah, humans ain't the only ones who are capable of torture.

[Dystopia]

The idea that humans are special is an irrational one and it strikes me as one of the biggest causes of stupidity in the world. As a law student, I know and witness how anthropocentric the legal system is - You are either a Human or an object (legally), and anything that isn't a human is an object by definition. Certainly Humans are smart and different in some sort of way, but we are not special or anything like that. I find the idea that we are to be idiotic and holding us back. Abrahamic religions are set up on the premise that Humans are god's special snowflake, and that's something that still impacts our way of thinking. Just think about it, we have occupied all of the earth's territory (except Antarctica but there's still buildings and research being done there), done most wars and committed the hugest evils, but we still see ourselves as better?

[rado84]

Ever seen a cat ripping a mouse to shreds? Yeah, humans ain't the only ones who are capable of torture.

That's pure instinct. But have you ever seen a cat to kill another cat because the other cat doesn't believe in "the right" god? Or because the other cat is gay?

[AFTT47]

I didn't even look at the poll because it isn't an either/or question. Obviously, we are animals like any other. Equally obvious though, our level of intelligence puts us in a totally different class. We are capable of advancement from generation to generation. We will eventually be able to direct our own evolution and improve our own species. We can become god-like. None of the other animals can do this.